Connecting People to Enhance the Experience of Work
Optimising Your Performance in an Online Interview
Lights, Camera, Action!
Are there differences between in person interviews and online interviews? Yes, there are! Whilst the questions will be the same, an interview online is very different. Because of this you’ll need to prepare with a few slight nuances. Profusion has over twenty years of experience recruiting in the financial services industry across specialist areas. Our team have developed this guide that will help you prepare and get you in the mindset to show your digital best.
Don’t leave the tech check to the interview time
Check your webcam and microphone beforehand to ensure they’re working and that you have a good internet connection. Be prepared in advance for a problem; if your Wi-Fi drops out, can you use your hotspot on your phone instead? If the link isn't working, do you know who to call to get it fixed?
Be early – but not too early
When you're online, a few minutes can seem like a very long time. No-one notices a one- or two-minute delay in a face-to-face meeting, but they do online. Make sure you log on a couple of minutes before hand. Arriving early also gives you time to position yourself in frame and check your presentation.
Remove visual distractions
Ensure you have good lighting and your background is neutral. If you are in a place where there may be other people around, ensure you are not in a frame where they can walk past or see. Not only will other people distract you but you’ll distract the interviewer.
Remove audio distractions
Make sure you’re in a quiet place and limit background noise and interruptions. Whether you choose to use a headset or not is entirely your preference, however consider scenarios where they may help if there is background noise.
Don't overtalk
Because it’s often hard to read non-verbal cues in an online interview, it is easy to overtalk when we are online seeking to make our point or feel heard. The absence of immediate signals via body language or energy levels from the interviewer can cause us to over answer. Trust in your answers, and if you are uncertain – check in and ask if you have provided enough information. The interviewer will be glad to let you know.
Wrapping up the online interview
Because you can’t physically shake your interviewers hands or the panel as you would in a face-to-face interview, it’s important to replicate a close-out in the digital environment. Try using a closing statement such as "Speaking with you today has really heightened my interest in the role. If I get the opportunity to speak with you again or secure this role, it will be great to finally meet you in person. Thanks so much for your time”.
Eye contact
Maintain eye contact as much as possible, particularly when answering questions. Look into the camera and not at the monitor. When you are in frame, body language can be hard to read so using other non-verbal cues such as eye contact can really help focus both you and the interviewer. If you have prepared notes, make sure you don’t read your answers out. You want to ensure that you speak freely into the camera.
Enunciation
When we’re nervous, our voice tends to get higher, and we might talk faster. Try to slow things down and enunciate your words clearly. It always helps to have a glass of water ready in case you get a dry mouth or need a second to think.
Profusion has spent over twenty years developing the interview skills of candidates in the financial services industry. If you want to learn more about how you can set yourself apart from other candidates, be sure to check out our common questions guide and our interview tips guide. We spend every day connecting people to enhance the experience of work. If you’d like to know how we can help you prepare for your next role or simply want to connect with a consultant and learn more about our specialties, contact us today. We also work with individuals on entering new areas of finance. Simply head to our contact page and review our specialisations where you’ll find a consultant.
Connecting people to enhance the experience of work
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